RED-EYED VIREO, OR FLYCATCHER. 313 



Vireo arrives in Pennsylvania late in April, and in New 

 England about the beginning of May. It inhabits the 

 shady forests or tall trees near gardens and the suburbs 

 of villages, where its loud, lively, and energetic song is 

 often continued, with little intermission, for several hours 

 at a time, as it darts and pries among the thick foliage 

 in quest of insects and small caterpillars. From its first 

 arrival, until August, it is the most distinguishable warb- 

 ler of the forest, and when almost all the other birds 

 have become mute, its notes are still heard with unabat- 

 ed vigor. Even to the 5th of October, still enlivened by 

 the feeble rays of the sun, he faintly recalls his song, and 

 plaintively tunes a farewell to his native woods. His 

 summer notes are uttered in short, emphatical bars, of 2 

 or 3 syllables, and have something in them like the sim- 

 ple lay of the Thrush or American Robbin when he first 

 earnestly and slowly commences his song. He often makes 

 use, in fact, of the same expressions, but his tones are 

 more monotonous as well as mellow and melodious, like 

 the rest of the Vireos. In moist and dark summer 

 weather, his voice seems to be one continued, untiring 

 warble of exquisite sweetness ; and in the most populous 

 and noisy streets of Boston, his shrill and tender lay is 

 commonly heard from the tall Elms ; and as the bustle 

 of carts and carriages attempt to drown his voice, he 

 elevates his pipe with more vigor and earnestness, as if 

 determined to be heard in spite of every discord. The 

 call of " Whip-Tom'TieUy ,'' attributed to this species 

 by Sloane and even Wilson, I have never heard, and, 

 common as the species is throughout the Union, the most 

 lively or accidental fit of imagination never yet, in this 

 country, conceived of such an association of sounds. I 

 have already remarked, indeed, that this singular call is, 

 in fact, sometimes uttered by the Tufted Titmouse. 

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